By TAYE OBATERU

THE swearing-in of Jonah David Jang, as Governor of Plateau State for a second term was, as usual, celebrated with pomp and pageantry, borne out of the expectation by many that he would consolidate on the achievements of his first tenure.

However, beyond the wining and dining, the back-slapping and other forms of celebration are the high hopes of the people for him to address specific issues bedeviling the state. Top on the people’s agenda, according to an opinion poll, is the consolidation of the semblance of peace currently being enjoyed in the state. A lot of residents believe that concrete steps need to be taken to foster reconciliation and  healing of wounds that would promote re-integration to alter the present situation where the state capital has been divided into religious enclaves of sort.

The issue of the protracted strike that has seen the state-owned tertiary institutions shut for almost eight months and other problems in the education sector, which have manifested in poor performance of the state in West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations for some years now; similar problems in the health sector and others are areas where the people want the governor to pay attention to in the next four years.

Not unaware of these yearnings of the people, Jang has apart from promising to give priority to the education and health sectors, promised to reward the people for the overwhelming endorsement for a second term at the polls.

Speaking during his second inauguration on May 29, he promised to unveil a three-pronged agenda that would guide the administration in the next four years. He also used subsequent opportunities at public fora to pledge his commitment to delivering more goodies to the people during his second term.

So far, he has made three key appointments- Professor Shedrach Best as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Gyang Pwajok as Chief of Staff and Chris Kwaja as Director of Research in his office. Of significance is the relative youthfulness of the appointees in comparison to the governor who is 67 and his deputy, Mr. Ignatius Longjan who is 66.

He said at the swearing-in of the SSG and the chief of staff on Monday that appointing the youth into such positions was a way of grooming them for taking over from his generation in future.

While the governor perfects the list of other appointees, who would serve in various capacities during his second tenure, speculations as to the people and issues likely to influence his second tenure are making the rounds. Those concerned, many believe, have the capacity to shape the focus of the administration, positively or negatively, in the next four years.

Probably, top on the block is the deputy governor, a bosom friend of the governor’s, who served as chief of staff in his first tenure. Longjan is believed to have the capacity to influence the governor because of the cozy relations between them as friends and the confidence Jang has built in him. The duo is expected to have a better working relationship than was the case between the governor and his former deputy, Dame Pauline Tallen, which was ruined by mutual suspicion.

Another influential figure being mentioned is the Gbong Gwom Jos, His Royal Majesty, Jacob Gyang Buba, who many believe has enormous influence on Jang not necessarily by virtue of being the traditional head of the Berom ethnic group to which Jang belongs, and as Chairman of the state Traditional Council, but more  because of the personal relationship between them, which predates the offices they now occupy.

Just as was the case during the first tenure, he is expected to continue to be influential in the administration.
Also known to be close to the governor is Mr. Bulus Dareng, described as a relation and long-term close associate of Jang’s. He was the Coordinator of the Jonathan/Sambo campaign in the state for the last Presidential election and is speculated to be among those recommended by Jang for appointment at the federal level. Whether he moves to Abuja or not, he is expected to continue to be relevant in shaping the governor’s perspective on issues.

Expectedly, the new Speaker, Mr. John Clark Dabwan and the House of Assembly as an arm of government would also help shape the administration’s focus. Many residents who spoke on their expectations from the house are, in fact, tasking the assembly to cooperate with the governor to achieve his dreams for the state while also serving as a check on the executive arm. Carrying out this challenge would, no doubt, make them influence policy directions.

The state Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Haruna Dabin and the entire party machinery are similarly, likely to play key roles in influencing the administration. Whether the party machinery would be able to assert itself to be able to  get the governor to do certain things in line with the party’s manifesto would unfold in due cause especially in view of the fact that the governor is said to be in firm control of the executive. Dabin’s intellectual background and experience are seen as assets that would make him remain relevant in the scheme of things.

Others include, Prophet Isa El-Buba, widely seen as one of the governor’s “spiritual fathers”, the Church in the state as a body, labour, the civil society and of course, the governor’s family and friends.

Also expected to envision the administration’s focus are the SSG and a group made up of the chief of staff, Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mr. Ezekiel Dalyop, his counterpart in charge of security matters, P.D. Gyang, the former Attorney-General, Mr. Edward Pwajok who are touted to constitute the kitchen cabinet. Issues such as the crisis, the minimum wage, strike in various sectors which dotted the first tenure and so on would almost certainly, also influence the direction of the administration.

As the state awaits further appointments of the governor to see the caliber of people that would constitute his cabinet and other appointees who will also become influential in varying degrees, depending on their performance, portfolio or closeness to the governor, many residents say they expect the interest of the state to be uppermost in the minds of all concerned. This, they argue is the only way that would make the eight years of the “Redemption” journey of the Jang Administration worthwhile at the end of the journey in 2015.